How to Apply Bronzer? Tips for Sun Kissed Glow

Skinclarins April 30, 2024

0 52 9 minutes read

Especially on days when your skin looks a little dull, applying bronzer to your face is a terrific way to give it a beautiful, natural-looking glow.

However, if you apply bronzer poorly, it can make your face appear orange or unclean.

I will share methods and tips on how to get a radiant glow on your face when you apply bronzer.

Follow these steps:

Get a Level Base

1. Use a cleanser and lukewarm water to wash your face

Choose a cleanser that is ideal for your skin type, mix up lather with warm water, and then use your hands to massage the cleanser into your face in a circular motion.

After washing your face, blot it dry with a fresh washcloth.

If your skin is dry, use a cleanser with a cream base.
If your skin type is normal, use a mild cleanser with an oil base and a pH balance.
If your skin is oily, use a foamy cleanser.

2. Use a great moisturizer and sunscreen

It’s time to hydrate and protect your skin after washing your face.

Use an SPF-containing, high-quality moisturizer and dab on eye cream.

Use a moisturizer that blocks UVA radiation to ensure that the sun is providing adequate protection for your face.

3.Use concealer

Concealer is the first step in creating an even base, which is essential before applying bronzer. Select a concealer that complements your skin tone.

Apply it to the areas that require additional coverage above the foundation.

A liquid foundation can be used to create an even canvas. After using concealer, cover your entire face with an even layer of liquid foundation.

This will even out your skin tone and prepare your face for contouring. Applying foundation can be done with your fingers, a makeup brush, or a makeup sponge.

For a more natural effect, make sure you gradually blend the foundation down your neck.
Think about using a tinted moisturizer if you like an appearance that is softer, subtler, or natural.

Apply it similarly to how you would a liquid foundation. If you’re going to use blush, wait to apply it until after bronzer.

Applying Bronzer

1. Choose a bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone

Your skin tone will determine which bronzer is best for you because its goal is to gently darken the complexion.

It should only be a shade or two darker than your actual skin tone, generally speaking.

To ensure that it ‘warms’ your skin tone without appearing false, test a small amount on your wrist.

Look for a bronzer with a honey tone if you have fair skin.
Select a rose-bronze or gold-flecked bronzer for a medium complexion.

The finest bronzer for dark complexion tones is tawny or amber.

2. Apply powder using a broad, fluffy brush that has a rounded tip

Using a brush that is too small or too stiff can result in streaks and blotches while applying bronzer.

Though any large blush or foundation brush would do just as well, there are special bronzer brushes in the market.

Use a fan brush instead for a softer, more natural look.

Swirl the brush through the bronzer, applying light, even layers of bronzer is preferable to adding a single, dark layer all at once in order to build up color.

Thus, just lightly dust the brush’s end with powder and tap off any excess onto the container’s lid.

3. Apply the forehead bronzer

Starting at your forehead, apply your bronzer in a ‘3’ shape on both sides of your face, extending down to the bottom.

Gently run the brush down your hairline and the outside edges of your upper forehead.

4. Highlight your cheekbones with the bronzer.

After that, make a fish face and highlight your cheekbones with bronzer.

Smiling can also accomplish this; just remember to start at the apples of your cheeks and work your way up toward your hairline.

5. Apply bronzer to your jawline

Lastly, finish the ‘3’ form by lining your jawline with bronzer. Your face will look more defined as a result.

6. Gently rub your neck, nose, and chin.

When applying bronzer, pay particular attention to the parts of your face that are frequently exposed to sunshine.

Apply a final coat of bronzer to your face’s higher points, such the bridge of your nose and the tip of your chin.

Apply bronzer to your neck to complete the natural glow, matching the color of your face.

However, avoid using too much bronzer, as this could result in a heavy appearance.

Finishing Off the Bronzer Look

1. To blend the bronzer, use a fresh brush

To ensure that there are no uneven blotches or lines, take out another fluffy, clean brush and gently blend everything in.

It’s crucial that you integrate the area around the neck. Start in the center and move the brush outward in tiny, circular motions for the best blending results.

2. Remove any hard edges with a clear powder

After blending, if the color shift in your complexion is still not smooth and subtle, dip your blending brush into some translucent powder, tap out any extra, and then blend once more.

3. If you want a more radiant look, apply blush

You can apply powder, liquid, or stick blush. Apply the blush to the middle of your cheekbones.

Using a rounded brush, blend it out towards the corners of your face.

4. Use a setting spray to keep the appearance in place

To keep your skin looking gorgeous all day, use a makeup setting spray all over your face after you’re finished.

Selecting the Appropriate Bronzer

This will depend on:

Skin Tone

Selecting the ideal bronzer for your distinct skin tone is the first step, advises New York-based cosmetic expert Tobi Henney.

Among the items to remember are:

Shade:

Try to match your skin tone to no more than two shades darker.

Undertone:

Whether your undertones are warm, cool, or neutral, choose a bronzer that complements them.

Color:

Steer clear of orange tones since they can appear odd on any skin tone.

Hold the bronzer against your skin to help you make up your mind.

Better still, visit a store and try a few things before making a purchase.

Remember that while summertime brings with it lighter skin tones, you could require a different shade in the winter.

Skin Type

You should think about your skin type in addition to your skin tone.

Any product may be made to function; however, certain formulas will be more compatible with your skin type than others.

Oily or balanced skin:

I have oily skin and find that using a powder-based bronzer helps balance my skin. I use a fluffy brush.

Dry or older skin:

You can use your fingers or a sponge to apply cream- or gel-based bronzers, which are ideal for dry skin.

For a subtle all-over glow, you can also incorporate a small amount of powder bronzer into your moisturizer.

Apply bronzer as final step

Prior to applying your bronzer, you should apply your blush, foundation, and concealer.

Additionally, you might wish to apply face powder, as this might lessen the chance of bronzing cream or powder adhering to your foundation and causing blotchiness.

I suggest using a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks for a dewy appearance.

Know where to apply the bronzer

When applying bronzer, it’s a good idea to go light on all the areas where the sun naturally shines, such as the chin, cheekbones, nose, and temples.

For subtler eye makeup effects, some makeup artists like to dab a little bit onto the eyelids.

Even though the neck is not a natural place for the sun, using bronzer is still an excellent idea because it will aid in your overall blending.

Good Techniques When Using Powder Bronzer

When applying bronzer with a brush, make sure the brush is well dipped into the powder and that any excess is blown off before it comes into contact with your skin.

Next, apply the powder bronzer by following these instructions:

1. To blend in the bronzer, start at the top of your ear and draw the brush down, moving in circular patterns across your cheek.

As you go, use the chisel technique, which contours the cheek with a swiping motion. In this case, blending is crucial.

2. Using the brush to smooth into the skin, apply a small amount to the jawline and temples.

3. To blend the face and neck together, softly dust the neck with bronzer.

Good Technique When Using Gel or Cream Bronzer

For a natural-looking bronzer application, according to expert’s advice if using a cream or gel-based product:

1. Apply bronzer with your fingers in the places where you want your skin to seem naturally glowing, such as below your cheekbones, around your temples, and just above your forehead.

2. Next, use a brush to apply powder bronzer to the bronzer.

After gathering powder onto your brush and lightly tapping it to remove any excess, apply the powder to the areas where you previously applied bronzer.

Add extra powder bronzer if needed.

Go Past The Face and Neck With The Bronzer

Who says you have to stop bronzing at your décolletage?

Using a mirror to ensure you don’t miss any areas, apply body bronzer to the palms of your hands and gently rub it into your skin, starting with your legs and working your way up.

Give It Time To Set

Give the bronzer five minutes to sink into your skin.

If you notice that you sweat a lot, try applying a little amount of setting powder to high-sweat regions like the back of your thighs or behind your knees.

Or, naturally, the forehead, which is prone to oil buildup.

Select the Appropriate Bronzing Brush

You should avoid using anything [with] extremely short bristles when applying bronzer.

The trend is toward a smooth, more diffused bronze look that appears so natural that it is almost imperceptible.

Chooses a brush with long, loose bristles in order to do this, with each bristle approximately 1.5 inches long.

Whether you want to blend in circular motions or up and down, the secret to bronzer that doesn’t seem ‘stripey’ is to move your brush around continually as soon as it touches your face.

Make sure to check your distance as well. Applying too much bronzer is possible if you hold the brush too close to the skin.

Instead, use the brushes to very gently dust your skin in order to avoid using too much color.

If you think you need more product, it’s always possible to increase it. The color becomes more intense the closer you get.

Remove Extra Powder by Tapping It Off

Whether applying blush, bronzer, or eyeshadow, a common practice for makeup artists is to tap extra product off the brush.

Applying bronzer directly into your skin could result in some areas of it looking uneven, especially if you haven’t blended it sufficiently overall.

Granted, it can seem unnecessary, but even the smallest bit of tap off on your brush guarantees a more perfect finish.

Pro Tips

Start from the outside, not the inside, of your face

Always begin applying color to the sides of the face and the hairline, working your way inward from the outside.
Applying anything shiny beyond your pupil is not advised.

Select a bronzer with hints of olive

Because olive tones appear more believable than orange tones, which tend to look far too heated, experts advise investing in a bronzer with an olive undertone.

First, use cream bronzer on the back of your hand

Bronzer is huge right now, and cream makeup is having a moment. However, with a product like this, going overboard is really simple.

Try blending a tiny bit on the back of your hand

before dipping your makeup brush into the product and applying it directly to your skin.

This will ensure that you don’t apply too much in the first place and have to start over.

It will also warm up the product and make it easier to blend on your face.

Maintain a variety of foundation colors

To bronze your skin, apply a darker foundation or even concealer.

In the winter, your summer foundation can work as bronzer, and in the summer, your winter foundation can be used as highlight.

Once more, it helps to mix a small amount of product on the back of your hand before applying with your brush to avoid getting too much on your skin.

For a convincing finish, blend blush and bronzer together

For warming and sculpting the face, bronzer is useless without a hint of blush applied on top.

Focus blush far higher up to create a sculpting look if you’ve applied bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should bronzer be used for a natural look?

Bronzer placement is a little easier than contour, which is limited to the natural hollows of the face.

Simply dab it on the high points of your face, which include your forehead, the very tops of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and the tip of your chin.

Can a darker foundation be used as a bronzer?